Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in History
The Supreme And Fiery Force Of A Poor Little Form Of A Woman: The Development Of The Prophetic Voice Of Hildegard Of Bingen, Maeve Nagel-Frazel
The Supreme And Fiery Force Of A Poor Little Form Of A Woman: The Development Of The Prophetic Voice Of Hildegard Of Bingen, Maeve Nagel-Frazel
Young Historians Conference
The first women granted Papal permission to teach and preach on theological matters, Hildegard of Bingen (AD 1098-1179) was a revered spiritual teacher who accumulated a sphere of influence far beyond most medieval women. However, Hildegard’s power derived from a paradox: the only way in which Hildegard was able to gain power was by deliberately diminishing herself as a paupercula femina forma (a poor little form of a woman). This paper explores the paradoxical cultivation of Hildegard's self-image, of a weak woman unwillingly receiving the word of God through debilitating visions, as a means to authenticate Hildegard's work and gain …